The Latest Cristaldi Scores
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Vintage
Wine
Color
Rating
Bending Branch Winery’s Tallent Vineyards Mourvèdre from the Texas Hill Country is sourced from vines planted at 1,620 feet in Hickory sandstone soils. The wine undergoes whole berry maceration and is aged for 24 months in oak. Bright red-toned fruits, reminiscent of strawberry and black currants, are tinged with vanilla and persist on the medium-bodied palate. The wine finishes with a long, expressive note of espresso bean, adding complexity.
The Lost Pirogue Vineyard, located in the Texas Hill Country at 1,605 feet of elevation on limestone rubble soils, is the source of this Tannat wine from Bending Branch. Hand-harvested and whole berry macerated, the wine was fermented in half-ton open-top containers and aged for just over 24 months in oak. A more medium-bodied, softer expression of Tannat, with crunchy red berry fruit character, elegant minerality, and a litany of herbs and Indian spices.
Bending Branch’s 2017 Tannat, sourced from Newsom Vineyards in the Texas High Plains, is a medium- to full-bodied red that opens with vibrant cherry and strawberry fruit notes, complemented by white pepper spices. A powerful baseline of tannins provides structure, with nicely ripe and well-integrated tannins that add depth and smoothness. As the wine unfolds, nuances of tobacco and sage build complexity, leading to a mineral-rich finish.
Sourced from the One Way Vineyard in Floyd County, this medium-bodied Dolcetto showcases generous red fruit flavors alongside savory, meaty notes of leather, tobacco, and pressed violets. The ripe, burly tannins provide structure, resolving through a juicy and satisfying finish. Stylish and well-built, this Dolcetto offers good balance of fruit, earthiness, and tannic intensity.
The Fire Oak Vineyard, located in Mills County just north of the Texas Hill Country border, produces this blend of 55% Carignan and 45% Mourvèdre, which is brimming with bright red-toned fruits and a savory baking spice character. Medium-bodied, the wine offers mocha-rich, fine-grained tannins that provide structure, with candied red berry fruit carrying through to a rich, satisfying finish. A well-rounded and flavorful expression of these two varieties.
The La Valentía 100% Grenache, sourced from Bounty Harvest Vineyard in Gaines County, sits just outside the Texas High Plains AVA but benefits from its high-altitude terroir at 3,500 feet. Grown in sandy loam and caliche (limestone) soils, the wine undergoes a 5-day cold soak in stainless steel with gentle pumpovers before aging for 12 months in neutral French oak with bâtonnage. This Grenache shows ripe, pure red berry fruit complemented by brown baking spice notes. Medium-bodied, it is framed by firm, grippy tannins with a chocolaty edge, leading to a finish highlighted by blood orange acidity and a distinctively salty, crushed granite minerality.
From the Fire Oak Vineyard in Mills County, this red blend of 75% Mourvèdre and 25% Carignan is juicy, full-bodied, and layered with crunchy red fruit flavors and sweet spices, complemented by the distinctive character of dried wild herbs. The wine’s juicy acidity brings tension and freshness to the finish.
Wow, what a marvelously rich, full-bodied, and powerful Tannat, but with impressive energy and tension. It boasts balanced, robust tannins and loads of perfectly ripe dark berry fruit, including blueberry compote, alongside sweet and savory spices, and pure, natural, balanced acidity that keeps this wine grippy, fresh, and bright. The tannisn are massive and powerful, and I’d hold onto this until 2027, until popping corks. Consumers are in for a real treat when this is offered through the tasting room outside of Fredericksburg. A captivating expression of Tannat that promises to impress. Winemaker Tony Offill, who started here in 2017, has made marked improvements, and with Napa-based consultant Jean Hoefliger, who began consulting with William Chris in 2022, the transformation of these wines is incredible, and they are among the best wines being made in Texas today.
From the Hye Estate, this Tannat is ripe and fragrant, with a beautiful mix of red and purple florals, sweet spices, and extremely polished, firm, fine-grained tannins. Medium-bodied to full-bodied, it showcases brown spices and elegant cedarwood throughout, all while maintaining incredible freshness. Terrific fruit purity and density of fruit weight on the mid-palate are off the charts. Winemaker Tony Offill, who started here in 2017, has made marked improvements, and with Napa-based consultant Jean Hoefliger, who began consulting with William Chris in 2022, the transformation of these wines is incredible, and they are among the best wines being made in Texas today.
A blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Malbec, and 8% Merlot, the 2022 William Chris Vineyards Enchanté is sourced from Upflit Vineyard on granitic bedrock, as well as Blackmon Ranch and Fovel Family Vineyard, where vines are rooted in Hickory sands. All three sites are located in the Llano Uplift formation within the Texas Hill Country AVA. Fermented in large upright oak fermenters and aged for 17 months in 25% new French oak, the use of French oak layers in tighter, more firm, and structured tannins that are fine-grained and well-integrated. The wine showcases a host of crunchy red and black-toned fruit character, graphite notes, and dried herbs, creating a dynamic and captivating profile. This is a dynamite wine from the Texas Hill Country, offering immediate appeal with the structure and aging potential to evolve beautifully over time.
The 2022 Malbec from Uplift Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country is 100% Malbec, aged for 16 months in 10-15% new French oak. It is beautifully fresh and inviting, with captivating red berry fruit notes and crystalline acid tension, making this Malbec quite impressive. Lovely blue fruit and violet notes complement the wine, while velvet, fine-grained tannins provide a smooth, medium-bodied structure. The wine is framed by elegant cedarwood spices, adding depth and complexity. The winery is situated on a stunning 72-acre site, with 55 acres planted as of 2024, in Hoover’s Valley within the Llano Uplift, surrounded by three mountain ranges and the Colorado River. It’s a gorgeous site, imbued with soil that is literally pure beach sand. Winemaker Claire Richardson, along with her full-time vineyard crew, is doing a phenomenal job crafting bright, fresh, and energetic wines that truly capture the essence of this slice of Texan countryside. The consulting winemaker is Jean Hoefliger.
The Badu from Uplift Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country is a very savory and smoky wine, combining 57% Montepulciano, 33% Aglianico, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Sangiovese. It shows a hearty, meaty richness, with hints of espresso bean. Full-bodied, it features robust tannins and layers of red and black-toned fruit, including currant and spiced plums. Cool, wet slate minerality adds a refreshing edge, carrying through to the long finish.
Uplift Vineyard’s Texas Hill Country 2022 Sangiovese,sourced from vines planted on ancient granitic soils amidst surrounding mountain ranges, is a red-toned wine marked by vibrant currant fruit and brown baking spice notes. It features intense, fine-grained tannins that are beautifully balanced by a foundation of blood orange acidity. The finish is complex, with nuances of dried wild herbs, pomegranate seeds, and cherry pit, adding depth to its long, satisfying conclusion.
This blend of 68% Marsanne and 32% Roussanne, crafted by Claire Richardson with consulting winemaker Jean Hoefliger, is a bright, fresh, and expressive white sourced from Uplift Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country. The wine is layered with fragrant baking spice notes, complementing its medium-bodied palate and balanced tension. Its flavors of Meyer lemon, apricot, white fig, and salted Marcona almonds add nuance and complexity.
The 2022 Estate Red from Uplift Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country is a bright, ripe, red-fruited wine with a hint of sage, cool wet slate, and rose petal. Medium-bodied, it features a firm spine of grippy acidity and taut, fine-grained tannins. The wine finishes with bright, crunchy pomegranate seed notes, revealing a juicy and fresh character. Aged in 10% new French oak, it shows great balance and vibrancy. The winery is situated on a stunning 72-acre site, with 55 acres planted as of 2024, in Hoover’s Valley within the Llano Uplift, surrounded by three mountain ranges and the Colorado River. It’s a gorgeous site, imbued with soil that is literally pure beach sand. Winemaker Claire Richardson, along with her full-time vineyard crew, is doing a phenomenal job of crafting bright, fresh, and energetic wines that truly capture the essence of this unique Texan countryside. The consulting winemaker is Jean Hoefliger.
A year ago, I wrote that this 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon shows the most promise among all of the barrel samples I tasted in Texas in November 2024. Tasting it again in October of 2025, this wine is just as impressive, gaining fruit depth and density, boasting a kind of Left Bank purity in the fruit profile, showcasing vibrant red and black fruit, spices, and mineral nuances, along with notes of thyme, sage, and anise with wet slate minerality on the lengthy finish. Medium- to full-bodied, it offers crisp, crunchy acidity and firm, inviting tannins. The Uplift Estate is situated on a stunning 72-acre site, with 55 acres planted as of 2024, in Hoover’s Valley within the Llano Uplift, surrounded by three mountain ranges and the Colorado River. It’s a gorgeous site, imbued with soil that is literally pure beach sand. Winemaker Claire Richardson, along with her full-time vineyard crew, is doing a phenomenal job crafting bright, fresh, and energetic wines that truly capture the essence of this slice of Texan countryside. The consulting winemaker is Jean Hoefliger.
(Barrel Sample) Incredibly polished with power, energy, and tension, this blend of 70% Monteuplicano, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Sangiovese offers gorgeously pure red fruits laced with vanilla and tobacco spice notes. Medium-bodied with polished tannins that are already poised for foundational success, it shows great promise. This is going to be a killer wine when it’s finally released, and I can’t wait to re-taste it. There’s been a dynamic shift—a watershed moment—in the production of these wines since Napa-based consultant Jean Hoefliger began consulting with Uplift Vineyard in 2022. The transformation is evident, and this wine is a testament to that evolution, promising an exciting future for these wines.
